| ![Show Contents]() McQuain History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland The Irish name McQuain was originally written in a Gaelic form as Ó Cuinn, which means descendant of Conn. Early Origins of the McQuain familyThe surname McQuain was first found in county Longford (Irish: An Longfort) traditionally known as Annaly or Teffia, and situated in the Irish Midlands, in Northwest Leinster where they were Lords of Muintir Gillagain. The O'Quinns and MacQuinns (and all of the spelling variables derived from these) were descended from Conn, who in turn was descended from the Princes of Annaly. Early History of the McQuain familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our McQuain research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1014, 1252, 1279, 1281, 1522, 1551, 1575, 1595, 1634, 1645, 1676, 1693, 1726 and 1766 are included under the topic Early McQuain History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McQuain Spelling VariationsThe Middle Ages saw a great number of spelling variations for surnames common to the Irish landscape. One reason for these variations is the fact that surnames were not rigidly fixed by this period because the general population had to rely on local official's understanding of how their name should be spelt, hence spellings in records often changed through a person's lifetime. The following variations for the name McQuain were encountered in the archives: O'Quinn, Quin, Quinn, Quine, MacQuin, MacQuinn, McQuin, McQuinn, MacCuin, Cuinn, Cuin and many more. Early Notables of the McQuain familyNotable amongst the family name at this time was Thomas O'Quinn, Bishop of Clonmacnois (1252-1279), as well as John Quinn, Bishop of Limerick (1522-1551), as well as Thady Quin (1645-1726) of Adare of the Thomond O'Quins, who was the grandfather of the first Earl of Dunraven.Walter Quin (c. 1575-1634), was an Irish poet and preceptor of Charles I. Born in Dublin, he travelled abroad and became a cultivated writer in English, French, Italian, and...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McQuain Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the McQuain familyIreland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name McQuain to North America: Ack Oquin, who arrived in Virginia in 1678; David Quinn, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1685; Daniel McQuinn, who sailed to Virginia in 1716; Knogher O'Quin, who came to America in 1737.
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